Video footage circulating online appears to show Pretti recording federal agents on his phone before being pepper-sprayed, restrained, and later shot. The circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force remain under investigation.
In the aftermath, reactions from government officials have been sharply divided. Several Trump administration figures publicly defended the ICE agent involved, while others criticized the broader conduct of immigration enforcement operations in the city.
Vice President Vance addressed the situation indirectly in a post on X, referencing what he described as a separate incident during a recent visit to Minneapolis. In his post, Vance alleged that off-duty ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers were identified and confronted at a restaurant, claiming local police declined to intervene and that federal agents ultimately assisted them.
Vance argued that tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement have contributed to instability, stating that a lack of cooperation has led to “chaos” in the city.
“These conditions create moments where tragedy occurs and political arguments follow,” Vance wrote, adding that he hoped city officials would reconsider their approach to federal immigration efforts.
His comments prompted significant backlash on social media, with critics arguing that the vice president failed to directly address the death of Pretti and instead focused on defending federal enforcement actions. Some users accused Vance of minimizing the loss of life, while others disputed the accuracy of his claims about local law enforcement.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also responded, criticizing what she described as political rhetoric surrounding the incident and calling for greater accountability and transparency.
Local and federal authorities have not announced any charges related to the shooting, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. Officials have said additional information will be released as reviews are completed.